Focusing on Strengths


What is the “big idea” for this lesson?

  • Character Strengths are the unique and best parts of our personality.

  • We all have natural character strengths we use everyday that help us overcome challenges, be more resilient, and help us be our best selves.

Reflection questions:

  1. Think about the activities and hobbies you enjoy. What skills do they require?  What character strengths do you think you need in order to be good at or grow these skills? (Ex. For the activity/skill of drawing, a character strength could be Creativity, for sports, a character strength could be Teamwork, etc.).

  2. Can you identify your own top three character strengths? How are your natural character strengths helpful for you during this time of school closures? If you are unsure and need ideas, you can see the Character Strengths Downloadable PDF below.

  3. What about the strengths of other household members? How have each of you used your strengths during this time of school closures to help out?

Focusing on Strengths Activity

This activity allows you to think about your strengths and how they’re helping you during this time of school closures. Writing and drawing your strengths, and putting them somewhere you can see every day, will help you remember to be your best self as you face challenges, and will help you be more resilient!

Brainstorm:

  1. What are some of my favorite activities and hobbies? What character strengths do I need in order to be successful in those activities?

  2. What are my top 3-4 strengths? (If you need some help getting started you can look on the Character Strengths Example Page - linked on the lesson page).

Emily's Strengths Portrait Example 1.jpg

Materials: 

  • Paper and pens, markers, or colored pencils

  • Post-it notes or paper and pens/pencils

  • Tape to hang your note or picture

  • Optional: Character Strengths Example Page (download and print)


Directions:

1. Consider the brainstorm questions (above). What are your top 3-4 strengths? (Hint: if you’re stuck, ask a friend or family member to help you name your strengths)


Emily's Strengths Example (postits) .jpg

2. If you’re using a post-it note or piece of paper, write your top 3-4 strengths. You can write them all on one note or write 3 or 4 different notes for yourself.


3. If you’re creating a self-portrait, draw yourself any way you want! (Can even be a stick figure or you can make a collage with magazine cut outs etc.) and write, draw or represent your top 3-4 strengths somewhere in the picture.



4. Using a small piece of tape, or the sticky part of the post-it note, hang portrait and/or notes somewhere you can see it every day (maybe near your bed or on your bathroom mirror).



5. Notice how it feels to see your top strengths each day!



 

Character Strengths Ingredients



 
 
 

Bonus “Quarenteam” Strengths Activity:  

Sit in a circle or around a table/couch with your family or household members, whomever you are Staying-at-home with (your “quarenteam”!) . Each person goes around the circle: tell each person what you see as their strengths and how it is helpful in your household, especially during this challenging time. Make sure each person shares at least one strength they see in each person present!

Bonus Video: 

 
 
Project Resilience Ball.png